Nerves and Common Sense eBook

Thus, instead of interfering with nature, we are doing
all in our power to aid her; and when nature and the
invalid work in harmony, health comes on apace.

When illness brings much pain and discomfort with
it, the endeavor to relax out of the contractions
caused by the pain, are of the same service as dropping
contractions caused by the fretting.

If one can find a truly wise doctor, or nurse, in
such an illness as I refer to, get full instructions
in just one visit, and then follow those directions
explicitly, only one visit will be needed, probably,
and the gain from that will pay for it many times over.

This article is addressed especially to those who
are now in health.

It is perhaps too much to expect one in the midst
of an illness to start at once with what we may call
the curative attitude, although it could be done,
but if those who are now well and strong will read
and get a good understanding of this healthy way of
facing an illness, and get it into their subconscious
minds, they will find that if at any time they should
be unfortunate enough to be attacked with illness,
they can use the knowledge to very real advantage,
and—­what is more—­they can, with
the right tact, help others to use it also.

To see the common sense of a process and, when we
have not the opportunity to use the laws ourselves,
to help others by means of our knowledge, impresses
our own brains more thoroughly with the truth, especially
if our advice is taken and acted upon and thus proved
to be true.

It must not be forgotten, however, that to help another
man or woman to a healthy process of getting well
requires gentle patience and quiet, steady, unremitting
tact.

CHAPTER X

Is Physical Culture good for Girls?

A NUMBER of women were watching a game of basket-ball
played by some high-school girls. In the interim
for rest one woman said to her neighbor: “Do
you see that girl flat on her back, looking like a
very heavy bag of sand ?”

“Yes,” the answer was; “what under
the sun is she doing that for? She looks heavy
and lazy and logy, while the other girls are talking
and laughing and having a good time.”

“You wait and watch her play,” responded
the first woman. And so they waited and watched,
and to the astonishment of the friend the girl who
had looked “lazy and logy,” lying flat
on her back during the rest-time, was the most active
of the players, and really saved the game.

When the game was finished the woman said to her friend
with surprise in her voice: “How did you
see through that, and understand what that girl was
aiming for?”

The answer was: “Well, I know the girl,
and both she and I have read Kipling’s ‘The
Maltese Cat.’ Don’t you remember how
the best polo ponies in that story, when they were
off duty, hung their heads and actually made themselves
looked fagged, in order to be fresher when the time
came to play? And how ‘The Maltese Cat’
scouted the silly ponies who held their heads up and
kicked and looked alert while they waited? And
don’t you remember the result?”